Los Angeles – To understand why the Rockies are winning now, look at their losses after last season’s all-star break. Colorado crippled under expectations, but how his players handled the slide convinced manager Clint Hurdle to change his leadership style.
That adjustment – he is more seen, less heard – has played a critical role in helping Hurdle guide the team to its winningest season ever and contention for a playoff berth. The team’s U-turn has placed him among National League manager of the year candidates.
“I think there is a learning curve with my education with the personnel here. But the thing I try to keep in mind is that as I’ve grown, they’ve grown,” Hurdle said Tuesday.
“You get to a point where you have confidence in your club that you have to do things differently. You have to show them, not just talk about (it). My actions tend to speak louder than my words, and I wanted to show them that. ‘This is your clubhouse. Go with it.”‘
It has been a remarkable, if not turbulent, ride for Hurdle. He began spring training with focus on his future, entering the last year of a contract without a winning season on his résumé. Ownership responded with a two-year extension on opening day. Hurdle insists the freedom didn’t alter his approach. As for his success, he’s not interested in using it as fodder against his critics.
“I don’t have that bone in my body anymore. I’ve been humbled so many times in my life that it’s a moot point,” Hurdle said. “It would be wasted energy.”
Hurdle, like most managers, receives the most scrutiny for his pitching changes. It’s the ultimate second guess in the sport – when to remove a starter or switch relievers. Hurdle acknowledged Tuesday that he has become more confident as a strategist, learning from watching opponents over the past six years.
“You get more experience in the league and get more experience with other hitters and what they are vulnerable to, maybe more than my first couple of years,” Hurdle said “I’ve looked at more tape and have a greater database to fall back on. I think I know skill sets better than I did in the past, giving us a chance to expose some holes better than in the past.”
Having three-time all-star Brian Fuentes and unflappable kid Manny Corpas in the eighth and ninth innings helps. Their talent, he agreed with a smile, makes him smarter.
As he prepared for Tuesday’s game, Hurdle sat relaxed in his cramped office.
“So many people have worked so very hard to get us here. I have used the analogy of building a house,” Hurdle said. “We wanted to get to that point where we could sit in the backyard and look up and say, ‘That’s nice.’ Now we have to mow the lawn. We aren’t done. We want to be in this position for years to come.”
Staff writer Patrick Saunders contributed to this report.
